
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 14, 1991                   TAG: 9102140126
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Los Angeles Daily News
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES                                LENGTH: Short

TV SHOW SPAWNS TALKING DOLL

Create a television sitcom, come up with a few smart-alecky zingers for a precocious, too-cute-to-believe youngster to repeatedly deliver, have the entire supporting cast take turns feeding the kid straight lines, and what have you got?

A hit show, of course. And maybe even a hit doll.

The past holiday season witnessed the much-expected and well-received arrival of the talking Bart Simpson doll and other accessories based on the offbeat animated sitcom "The Simpsons."

And now, the talking Michelle doll, patterned after the strawberry-blond, blue-eyed, brightly talkative star of the highly rated ABC show "Full House," is scheduled to hit toy-store shelves next month after making its debut this week at the American International Toy Fair in New York City.

The job of introducing the doll to the public fell to 4-year-old twins Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen, who share the duty of portraying Michelle on the weekly half-hour program and also provided the voice for the 14-inch figure.

Meritus Industries, a New Jersey-based toy manufacturer, spent six months developing the Michelle doll at an undisclosed cost after research revealed that Michelle currently is the second-most popular television character among children, next to Bill Cosby's Dr. Cliff Huxtable.

"We saw the show, and we saw the potential of this little girl to share with other little girls her specialness," Meritus president Walter Reiling said. "We felt that that's what little girls are all about."

by CNB